Usability of Central Library Websites of Iranian Universities of Medical Sciences an Evaluation

Shafi Habibi; Lida Seyed-Akbari; Amir Torab-Miandoab; Taha Samad-Soltani

doi:10.14429/djlit.39.4.14462

Shafi Habibi Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Lida Seyed-Akbari Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Amir Torab-Miandoab Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Taha Samad-Soltani Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.39.4.14462

Keywords: Usability, Website, Central library, University of medical sciences, Cognitive walkthrough method, Iran

Abstract

With regard to the potential of huge knowledge dissemination by academic library websites, their usability is considered as a matter of great interest to university administrators as well as users. In the present study, a descriptive survey was designed aimed at evaluating usability of central library websites of type-1 universities of medical sciences in Iran in order to identify their usability issues and to provide inputs for possible remediation efforts to improve the design of similar websites in the future. The research procedure involved a library study to identify the tasks typically needed on library websites, use of the identified tasks to design a checklist for measuring three dimensions of usability (effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction), and finally a usability evaluation by two specialists of medical informatics and two librarianship experts. The given websites were rated “good” (60 % - 80 %) in terms of usability and no statistically significant difference was found between evaluations by different experts. It was concluded that more attention to website usability could improve users’ interest in services and facilitate realisation of goals in parent organisations. The results of this study could provide a basic framework for website design and improvement through giving proper attention to usability dimensions.

Author Biographies

Shafi Habibi, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Dr Shafi Habibi, received his Phd in Health Information Management from Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran in 2015. His research interests include information use, information retrieval and datamining. He is working in Department of Librarianship and Medical Information Science, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

Lida Seyed-Akbari, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

Mr Lida Seyed-Akbari has been graduated in Librarianship and Medical Information Science from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, School of Management and Medical Informatics in 2019.

Amir Torab-Miandoab, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

Mr Amir Torab-Miandoab, pursuing his PhD in Health Information Management from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. He received his MSc in Health Information Technology from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 2018. His research interests include evaluating of Information Systems, Data mining, Tele medicine, Virtual reality, CdSS, Information System, M-Health and Social Network.

Taha Samad-Soltani, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

Mr Taha Samad-Soltani, Assistant professor of Medical Informatics, Department of Health Information Technology, School of management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. His area of interest is artificial intellegence.